Nano-MedicineFor Nano-MedicineAgainst Nano-Medicine

A Nanomedicine Transports a Peptide Caspase-3 Inhibitor across the Blood-Brain Barrier and Provides NeuroprotectionAuthors: Karatas, Hulya; Aktas, Yesim; Gursoy-Ozdemir, Yasemin; Bodur, Ebru; Yemisci, Muge; Caban, Secil; Vural, Atay; Pinarbasli, Onur; Capan, Yilmaz; Fernandez-Megia, Eduardo; Novoa-Carballal, Ramon; Riguera, Ricardo; Andrieux, Karine; PatrickvCouvreur; Dalkara, Turgay In most cases, it is difficult to get peptide inhibitors into the brain to protect the nervous system. This is because the blood-brain barrier usually stops the peptides from entering the brain. This study used Caspase-3, as the target drug because it has high pharmacological value in cell death. The Caspase-3 was loaded onto nanospheres. It was found that the nanospheres were able to rapidly transport across the blood-brain barrier without being destroyed by the liver or spleen. The study determined that nanospheres can cross the blood-brain barrier and thus serve as a whole new way to treat central nervous system disorders.

Benefit of nanocarrier of magnetic magnesium in rat malathion-induced toxicity and cardiac failure using non-invasive moniroting of elctrocardiogram and blood pressure.Authors: Mohammadi, Hamidreza; Karimi, Gholamreza; Seyed Mahdi Rezayat; Ahmad Reza Dehpour; Shafiee, Hoda; Nikfar, Shekoufeh; Baeeri, Maryam; Sabzevari, Omid; Abdollahi, Mohammad Organophosphate poisoning (OP) is usually very difficult to manage. It results in a decreases of the heart’s contractility and cell damage, resulting in cardiac failure. Using rats, this study had two groups of test rats that were given a dose of malathion (MAL) poison in order to create cardiac failure. One group was given the standard treatments for poisoning resulting in cardiac failure, such as magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). The second group was given PMC16 nanoparticle (Porphylleren-MC16). The results showed that in all doses, compared to standard treatments, PMC16 was able to restore heart rate, blood pressure, and increase the rest and relaxation duration of the heart. PMC16 was also able to increase antioxidant power. In conclusion, PMC16 nanoparticle was able to significantly recover the rat’s from cardiac failure. The study finds that PMC16 is able to control OP-induced cardiac failure and toxicity.

Effects of PEG-PLA-nano Artificial Cells Containing Hemoglobin on Kidney Function and Renal Histology in Rats.Authors: Zun Chang Liu & Chang, Thomas M. S. The purpose of this study was to discover if PEG-PLA nano artificial cells containing hemoglobin would cause harm to the renal system of rats. The rats were divided into groups based on which what injection they would get, the PEG-PLA nano particles (NanoRBC), rat blood cells, and other cells containing hemoglobin. 21 days after the injections, the rats were sacrificed so their kidneys could be examined. Only one of the test groups showed damage to the renal system, the stoma-free hemoglobin. All other groups, including NanoRBC did not show any damage or abnormalities in renal histology or biochemistry. It was concluded, that an injection of NanoRBC will not cause harm to the renal system.

Bioaccumulation and toxicity of gold nanoparticles after repeated administration in mice.Authors: Lasagna-Reeves, C.; Gonzalez-Romero, D.; Barria, M.A.; Olmedo, I.; Clos, A.; Sadagopa Ramanujam, V.M.; Urayama, A.; Vergara, L.; Kogan, M.J.; Soto, C. Although nanoparticles have the potential to offer great medical success, there is little evidence to show that they are safe after repeated use. This study examines the toxic effects of different doses of gold nanoparticles in mice for 8 days of administration. All organs showed a significant increase in gold when the dose was large. Small doses did not show a toxic increase. The results of this study showed that accumulation of toxins from nanoparticles depends on the dose that is administered. 400 kg/day was a dose that did show toxic effects. In conclusion, nanoparticles could be dangerous if administered in high doses, but at low doses they do not cause harm.

Nanoparticles can cause DNA damage across a cellular barrier Authors:Gevdeep Bhabra; Aman Sood; Brenton Fisher; Laura Cartwright; Margaret Saunders; William Howard Evans; Annmarie Surprenant; Gloria Lopez-Castejon; Stephen Mann; Sean A. Davis; Lauren A. Hails; Eileen Ingham; Paul Verkade; Jon Lane; Kate Heesom; Roger Newson & Charles Patrick Case This study was conducted to observe in nanoparticle cells can access, and damage, areas that they are not intended for; since they are very effective at reaching areas that many medical treatments cannot. The study observed that nanoparticle cells can damage other unintended cells by getting past healthy cell barriers. Nanoparticles can use ATP, or junctions and channels, to get past cell barriers. As a result, the nanoparticles had caused damage to DNA, but had not caused cells to die. This study warns that the indirect effects of nanoparticles needs to be examined when using nanoparticles for treatment.

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Nano-Medicine is believed to become an extremely effective method of medical treatment. Early testing in mice has revealed the potential for nano-medicine to treat cancer and other serious diseases. Also, nano-medicine is expected to help assist in surgeries and in medical imaging. However, the biggest controversy is in using nano-particle for drug delivery. Studies are showing that small nano-particles can be used to help with the delivery of drugs to the areas of the body where they are intended to reach. These nano-particles are thought to reach the intended areas with better accuracy, and perhaps reach intended areas that the drugs were not able to reach without nano-particles. In general, nano-particles are expected to make drug treatment more effective. However, it is debated whether using nano-particles for drug delivery is actually safe. There are theories that claim nano-particles will have toxic effects on the body. These articles will review the findings in regards to the toxicity of nano-particles and their ability to effectively assist with drug delivery.

Prior to examining these studies, I believe that nano-medicine, specifically nano-particles being used for drug delivery, can be extremely beneficial and accurate. There are cases that show that nano-particles are safe and show no signs of damaging the body. Other cases show evidence of damage caused by nano-particles. It seems that damage from nano-particles is very unlikely if the treatment is delivered at the correct, and safe, doses. Proper administration of nano-particles should result is very low chances of damage to the body. There will need to be methods developed to determine what doses are considered safe, and what methods of delivery are safe. After those methods have been established and proven, I believe nano-medicine should become a successful and encouraged form of treatment.

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Karatas, H; Aktas, Y; Gursoy-Ozdemir, Y. et al. 2009. A Nanomedicine Transports a Peptide Caspase-3 Inhibitor across the Blood-Brain Barrier and Provides Neuroprotection. Journal of Neuroscience. Vol 29. Issue 44. Pg 13761-13769 Mohammadi, H.; Karimi, G.; Seyed Mahdi R. et al. Benefit of nanocarrier of magnetic magnesium in rat malathion-induced toxicity and cardiac failure using non-invasive moniroting of elctrocardiogram and blood pressure. Toxicology & Industrial Health. Vol 27. Issue 5. Pg 417-429 Zun Chang Liu & Chang, Thomas M. S. 2008. Effects of PEG-PLA-nano Artificial Cells Containing Hemoglobin on Kidney Function and Renal Histology in Rats. Artifical Cells, Blood Substitues, & Biotechnology. Vol 36. Issue 5. Pg 421-430  Lasagna-Reeves, C.; Gonzalez-Romero, D.; Barria, M.A. et al. Bioaccumulation and toxicity of gold nanoparticles after repeated administration in mice. Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications. Vol 393. Issue 4. Pg 649-655.  Bhabra, G.; Sood, A.; Fisher, B. et al. 2009. Nanoparticles can cause DNA damage across a cellular barrier. Nature Nanotechnology. Issue 4. Pg. 876-883.

Tommy Boulay

Nano-Medicine QuestionnaireDirections: Choose the answer that you most closely agree with. Only choose one answer per question.Do you know a general description of what nano-medicine is?

I know what nano-medicine isI know a little about nano-medicineI have heard of nano-medicine but don’t know what it isI have never heard of nano-medicine

 Would you like to learn more about nano-medicine?

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 I trust nano-medicine to safely treat disease…

Strongly AgreeAgreeNeither agree nor disagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree

 I currently think positively about nano-medicine…

Strongly AgreeAgreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree

 I would allow nano-medicine to be used on me if I had a disease…

Strongly AgreeAgreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree

    I would like nano-medicine administration to have set rules and regulations…

Strongly AgreeAgreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree

 I would encourage others to look into nano-medicine as treatment for a disease…

Strongly AgreeAgreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree

 I believe nano-medicine can have toxic effects on the body…

Strongly AgreeAgreeNeither Agree nor DisagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree

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I would encourage others to look at NM as treatment

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